Dalai Lama turns 75 amid succession worries (News Feature)

By Siddhartha Kumar Jul 6, 2010, 13:37 GMT

New Delhi - The Dalai Lama, arguably the world's most celebrated monk, turned 75 Tuesday amid rising suspense over his successor as the leader of the Tibetan movement and Beijing's claim that it has the right to decide the issue.

Thousands of Tibetans braved heavy rains to join celebrations of his birthday in India's northern hill town of Dharamsala, home to their spiritual leader and his exiled government.

As their leader grows old, Tibetans in Dharamsala, who are usually tight-lipped on the issue, admitted that his succession is a matter of concern. They expressed worries that the successor would not match the Dalai Lama's charisma and appeal to keep the Tibetan issue alive in the international arena.

The Dalai Lama himself has kept everyone guessing about his successor, sometimes saying he might be the last reincarnation, at other times asserting the reincarnation would not be born under Chinese control but 'in the free world' to safeguard his people.

In a recent interview with India's NDTV network, the Dalai Lama said his successor need not be a reincarnation but someone appointed by him during his lifetime.

China, which invaded Tibet in 1950, has other plans. It indicated it would appoint the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama after the current one dies in an apparent plan to curb the Tibetan movement.

It did so in 1995 with the Panchen Lama, the second-highest lama. The Dalai Lama named a competing incarnation, who promptly vanished. China said the boy was put into protective custody.

The Dalai Lama said any Dalai Lama chosen by China would have no moral legitimacy or following. Asked whether he would appoint someone in his lifetime, Dalai Lama told NDTV that he would continue to guide his community in the coming years.

'I have not much concern about these things,' he said. 'Sometimes I think the Chinese communists have more concern about Dalai Lama's successor than me. Silly, silly thinking, like that, so doesn't matter.'

'On the practical level, no hurry,' he added. 'I am quite healthy, so for another 10 to 20 years, I think, no problem.'

On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama attended prayers at Dharamsala's main Tsuglagkhang temple and blessed his followers at the function attended by Tibetan ministers and officials.

'Special prayers were held for the well-being and long life of his holiness,' Tibetan government spokesman Thubten Samphel said.

As the exiled community planned celebrations worldwide, the Tibetan cabinet, or Kashag, underscored the Dalai Lama's 'Middle Way' policy, which renounces independence in favour of 'meaningful autonomy' for Tibet within China, saying it was the only way to resolve the friction with Beijing.

'For over 50 years, Tibetans in and outside Tibet have been able to withstand the unbearable circumstances and emergencies with great courage and strength, and for over four generations, the Tibetans have been able to maintain their religion, culture and tradition,' it said. 'This is solely due to the grace of his holiness.'

Beijing has faced allegations from human rights groups that it has systematically persecuted Tibetans and suppressed their culture since it established the Tibetan Autonomous Region 40 years ago.

The smiling and soft-spoken Dalai Lama has become a symbol of Tibetan non-violent resistance against China.

Born on July 6, 1935, in Tibet's north-eastern Amdo province, the monk has been in the global spotlight since the age of 4 when he was enthroned as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama.

He fled to India in 1959, disguised as a soldier, while Chinese troops cracked down on a Tibetan uprising against the occupation of their homeland.

He has endeared himself to millions of people worldwide in subsequent decades by propagating Buddhist thought, peace and compassion in the face of personal barbs by Beijing, which has described him as a 'splittist' and a 'wolf in monk's robes.'

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, known for his self-effacing humour, draws thousands as he travels around the globe giving spiritual talks.

The Dalai Lama has few health complaints, which his followers attribute to his spiritual power and humility. Even at this age, the Dalai Lama shows no signs of slowing down and in an average year spends half the time travelling abroad and meeting heads of states in an untiring campaign for his people.